Circuit Court

Concurrent jurisdiction with general district courts of monetary claims over $4,500 but not exceeding$25,000.

Exclusive original jurisdiction of monetary claims exceeding $25,000

Attachments

Validity of a county or municipal ordinance or corporate bylaw

Divorce proceedings

Wills, trusts and estate matters

Property disputes

Adoption proceedings

Criminal Cases:

All felonies, offenses that may be punished by imprisonment of more than one year

Misdemeanor offenses that were appealed from district court or originated from a grand jury Indictment

Transfer or certification of felony offenses committed by juveniles

Appeals:

Appeals from the general district court or juvenile and domestic relations district court

Appeals from administrative agencies

The Circuit Court also handles any case for which jurisdiction is not specified in the Code of Virginia.

Clerk’s Office

The Clerk of the Circuit Court is a Constitutional Official and is elected by the voters of the locality and every Circuit Court in the Commonwealth of Virginia is a court of record. The Clerk of court is charged with the custody, safekeeping and proper indexing of legal and quasi-legal papers deposited in her office. The Clerk’s Office is responsible for filing of all civil suits; docketing and filing of criminal actions; filing divorce suits; and filing adoption petitions. Additional services provided by the Clerk's office include recording land records and plats; probating wills; issuing hunting and fishing licenses; processing notary public applications; issuing marriage licenses; recording military discharge forms (DD-214’s) and assumed business names. It is the duty of the Clerk to assign a deputy clerk to each courtroom to assist the nine Circuit Court Judges in carrying out each day's activities.

Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

The Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court handles cases involving:

Juvenile delinquency and status offenses

Juveniles accused of traffic violations

Children in need of services or supervision

Children subjected to abuse or neglect

Children who are abandoned or without parental guardianship

Foster care and entrustment agreements

Children for whom relief of custody or termination of parental rights is requested

Adults accused of child abuse or neglect, or of offenses against family or household members

Adults involved in disputes concerning the custody, visitation or support of a child

Spousal support

Minors seeking emancipation or work permits

Court-ordered rehabilitation services

Court consent for certain medical treatments

General District Court

The General District Court hears all criminal cases involving misdemeanors under state law and offenses that are violations of ordinances, laws, and by-laws of the county or city where it is located. A misdemeanor is any charge which carries a penalty of up to one year in jail or a fine of up to $2,500, or both. The general district court decides civil cases in which the amount in question does not exceed $25,000. Civil cases vary from suits for damages sustained in automobile accidents to suits by creditors to receive payment on past due debts. In Virginia, claims for less than $4,500 can be initiated only in general district courts. A separate small claims division has jurisdiction over civil actions when the amount claimed does not exceed $5,000.

The general district court also hears cases in which a person is charged with a traffic infraction. The general district court holds preliminary hearings in felony cases, that is, any offense which may be punishable by imprisonment of more than one year. At a preliminary hearing, the court determines whether there is sufficient evidence to justify holding the defendant for a grand jury hearing. The grand jury determines whether the accused will be indicted and held for trial in the circuit court.

Magistrate’s Office

The Magistrate’s Office operates under the supervision of the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Virginia Supreme Court. Magistrates are judicial officers of the Commonwealth of Virginia and are not connected with law enforcement. One of a magistrate’s principal functions is to provide an independent, unbiased review of complaints from law enforcement officers and citizens to determine if there is probable cause for criminal charges. Magistrates may conduct hearings in person and through designated videoconference systems.

The Magistrate’s Office serving Greensville County is open twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year at the Southside Regional Jail.

In addition to determining probable cause for criminal charges, magistrates may also:

Issue search warrants

Accept prepayment of fines and court costs for certain traffic and misdemeanor offenses

Issue civil warrants and order pre-trial levies and seizures in certain circumstances